Watch Man Cling to Stolen SUV Roof in High-Speed Texas Police Chase

July 28, 2022

Eyewitness video captured the owner of an SUV hanging on to the vehicle's roof rails as an alleged car thief speeds and swerves through traffic while being pursued by Live Oak police officers.

By Mitchell Willetts

Source The Charlotte Observer

The owner of a stolen SUV hangs on to the vehicle's roof rails as an alleged thief speeds through traffic during a high-speed chase with Live Oak, TX, police Tuesday.

When a Texas man saw his SUV was being stolen, rather than watch it speed away into the distance, he jumped on top and held on tight, according to police.

It wasn’t long before witnesses saw a man hanging from a black SUV, and a call came in to the Live Oak Police Department at 7:25 p.m. July 26, a police release said.

The suspect, later identified as 29-year-old Jacob Benito Zuniga, was apparently well aware the owner was clinging to the roof, according to police. When officers spotted the vehicle, Zuniga was “swerving erratically from side to side,” trying to throw the man off.

Zuniga is seen speeding through traffic, quickly weaving between cars as police give chase, while the victim is still clinging to the SUV, his hands clutched around the roof rails, video obtained by TV station WOAI shows.

The chase ends moments later when Zuniga crashes into a vehicle at an intersection, according to the release.

The force of the impact finally breaks the owner’s determined grip, throwing him onto the ground. Zuniga climbs out of the wreck and runs, but is caught and arrested, police said.

The owner was transported to a San Antonio hospital in critical condition, according to police.

Zuniga was charged with aggravated robbery, intoxication assault and evading arrest, and was booked into the Bexar County Jail.

______

Visit charlotteobserver.com.

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.